I wasn’t sure what to expect on my first evening in Milwaukee, but Elvis Costello certainly wasn’t at the top of my list. Within five minutes of landing in the Wisconsin city, I spotted someone walking into the airport with not only the face, but also the familiar hat, scarf and sunglasses of the famous musician Elvis Costello. I’m afraid I gawked at him as he walked by, since I could scarcely believe my eyes.
It turns out Milwaukee has had a long history with music. I arrived the day after the 11-day-long Summerfest, titled the “World’s Largest Music Festival” by the Guinness World Records. After driving by the festival grounds next to the sky blue Lake Michigan, I learned Elvis had indeed performed the day before at one of the festival’s many stages. Looking at the stellar Summerfest lineup, I could tell the city knew how to party.
After my surprise celebrity sighting, I took a driving tour of the city and won about $30 at Potawatomi Bingo Casino. Not too shabby for my first attempt at a slot machine. Tonight, I’m staying at one of Milwaukee’s many historic hotels called the Ambassador Hotel. This beautiful hotel hearkens back to the 1930s with its art deco decorations that extend to it elevators and bathroom doors. I can already tell my tour of Milwaukee will be full of surprises.
